Astana manager Alexandre Vinokourov says that his formation has secured a new sponsorship deal until 2020.

Only a few months ago, Astana Cycling Team was in big financial trouble. Vinokourov told Kazakh media in February that the future of both the riders and staff was unsure due to the lack of payments coming from the group of businesses that together form the backing for Team Astana. The team paid for training camps and travel costs with their own savings.

Now the Olympic Champion of 2012 confirms the continuation of the team in an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. The extension secures the team's existence until 2020, with an annual budget of 17 million euros. "The problems are over," Vino told the Italian newspaper, "we are secured for another two seasons and we will have tranquillity around the team until 2020."

In the same interview the Kazakh team manager sheds his light on the performances of Miguel Ángel López in the Giro d’Italia. "He can reach the podium, we believe in that," Vinokourov stated despite a crash in the TT recon and a significant time loss already.

Because of the good news riders as López, Jakob Fuglsang and Michael Valgren Andersen see their future secured. Astana started the season incredibly well, with 15 victories so far by 9 different riders. The ones that stick out are those by Valgren Andersen, who won both the Amstel Gold Race and the Omloop het Nieuwsblad, two WorldTour classics.